As the science advances, with improvement in technique and instrumentation - as well as the longer time spent in space - explorers are finding smaller and smaller worlds that are more likely to be Earth-like.

Scientists are seeking planets within the so-called Goldilocks zone, where a planet is not too hot and not too cold, and where liquid water could exist.

After a long series of observations to confirm its orbit, NASA announced finding such a planet only 2.4 times the size of Earth where the average temperature would be just below freezing.

If an atmosphere is present, the greenhouse effect could offer “shirt sleeve” temperatures.

The planet is dubbed Kepler 22-b, and circles its star in 290 days.

The star is in the constellation Cygnus the Swan, about 600 light years away.

It was detected by tracking the dip in the starlight as the planet crosses (transits) the face the star from our line-of-sight.

Of course a lot more factors are needed for life as we know it to exits.

As you read the reports sent back from Voyager and Kepler, remember that Earth is an amazing place.

We are fortunate that Earth’s axis has just the right tilt.

Earth also has a protective magnetic field, a large moon that guards us from many meteor impacts, an active geology, thick atmosphere, a stable star (the sun) and other benefits we quickly take for granted.